Philip lange



(No Model.)

P. LANGE.

SWITCH FDR ADJUSTABLE RESISTANGES.

Patented May 29, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP LANGE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO THE WEST IN GHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SWlTCH FOR ADJUSTABLE RESISTANCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,647, dated May 29, 1888.

(No model.)

To aZZ 2071,0712 it may concern:

Be it known that l, PHILIP LANGE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches for Adjustable Resistances, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the construction of IO circuitcontrolling devices for adjusting the amount of resistance included in an electric circuit, and the object is to provide a convenient and reliable form of circuit-closing device.

The invention consists, generally, in mounting upon a suitable base or box carrying the adjustable resistance a series of contact-plates connected with different points in the length of the resistance, and applying thereto a lever carrying laterally-yielding contacts,which are pressed between the plates, and a guide plate, which is also mounted upon the base. The contact-lever carries an arm which projects underneath the flange of a suitable plate for steadying its movement. The electrical connections are made with the separate plates through vertical lugs projecting upward some distance from the base. This construction is desirable, so that in case the baseboard should go warp the lever will still carry the contact springs in contact with the plates, thus avoiding a difficulty which has been experienced in constructions employed. heretofore wherein the contact-surfaces are parallel with or flat upon the baseboard.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front and Fig. 2 a side elevation of a switch embodying the features of the invention.

Referring to the figures, A represents a suit able baseboard carrying the resistance. Upon this board there is mounted a series of contact-plates, a a, to which are connected conductors b 5, leading from different points in the length of a suitable resistance. (Not 5 shown.) These plates at are each provided with an upwardly-extending lug or arm, 0, the face of which constitutes a contactsurface for a spring, (I, carried upon a lever, D. The lever D is pivoted at d to the base-board,

and is turned upon its pivot by means of a handle, (P, which is preferably of non-conducting material. The plates a are arranged in the arc of a circle, having its center at the point (2. The spring d is preferably formed by bending a piece of resilient metal into the loop form shown, the ends being clamped in a pin, e, of insulating material carried by the lever D. A similar contact, 6, is curved about the opposite side of the pin 6, and this bears against a plate, E. This plate E is provided with an upwardly-extending lug, 6', similar to the lugs c. The lugs c and e extend up ward a sufficient distance to insure that the spring (Z shall not be thrown out of contact with any of the plates u, even though the 6 base board A should become considerably warped.

One terminal of an electric circuit may be connected to the plate E, and the other terminal to one of the end plates, (4 a, of the series. The amount of resistance which will then be included in circuit may be varied by moving the contacts d and 0 toward and from that end plate.

For the purpose of holding and guiding the 7 lever D a catch, f, upon the under side of the lever, near its handle d extends beneath a flange, f, upon a plate, E, which is curved to the center (2.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a switch for resistances, the combina tion of the base-board, the plates a (1, having the lugs c 0 projecting perpendicularly from the baseboard, the lever D, and a contact surface,d, carried thereby and pressing against the faces of said lugs in a direction parallel with the plane of the baseboard.

2. In a switch for resistances, the combination, with a series of plates, a a, having the outwardly-projecting lugs c, of the lever D, c having its axis parallel with said lugs, the plate 6, having the log 6'", and contactsprings d and e, compressed between the lugs c and e".

3. In a switch for resistances, the combination of the plates a a, having the outwardlyprojecting lugs c, the lever D, a contact-surface, (I, pressing against said lugs, and a guideplate, F, having the flangef, and the catchf, carried upon said lever and proj eetin g beneath said flange,

4. In a. circuit-controlling switch, the com- In testimony whereof I have hereunto subbination, with the contact-plates and lever, of scribed my name this 4th day of August, A. D. a contact-spring carried by the lever and press- 1887 ing against said plates, consisting of a looped PHILIP LANGE. 5 band of resilient metal having its ends pro- \Vitnesses:

jecting toward each other and fastened to the W. D. UPTEGRAFF,

lever, substantially as described. I L. B. STILLWELL. 

